Clock winding and setting mechanism.



S. ARONSON.

CLOCK WINDING AND SETTING MECHANISM.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18. 914.

1,153,533. Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH GIL-WASHINGTON, D. c.

SJ ARONSON.

CLOCK WINDING AND SETTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I8, I914.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 a 5 1\\\ \K g 2} gnvewboz 4 Show w 3 ub MM WM W v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAUL ARONSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR'TG ELMER E. WILKINSON, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CLOCK WINDING AND SETTING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

Application filed December 18, 1914. Serial No. 877,951.

To all whom it may concern. I

Be it known that I, SAUL AnoNsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident, of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clock \Vinding and Set ting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention. relates to improvements in clock winding and setting mechanism, and particularly to that type of such mechanism wherein the winding and setting is effected by rotation of a bezel ring or other casemember. In the winding and setting mech anism herein illustrated and described, the mechanism is. changed from winding action to setting action, or vice versa, by lateral movement of the case, and time-keeping mechanism therein, with reference to a suitable base; such lateral movement effecting the operation of shifting mechanism similar to that commonly provided in lever-set or pendant-set watches. In changing the mechanism of a lever-set or pendant-set watch from winding action to setting ac tion, or vice versa, it. is common to consider that the watch case is held stationary and the setting lever, or pendant-head, moved; but it is obvious that it is equally possible to hold stationary the setting lever or the pendant head, and to move the watch case with reference to such lever or pendanthead; and this is, in effect, what is done in the clock herein illustrated and described.

My invention consists in the novel means herein illustrated and described for effecting either winding or setting by rotation of the clock case; in the means herein described for changing fr m winding action to setting action, or vice versa, by a lateral movement;

and in other features of construction, combination and arrangement, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The objects of my invention are to improve and simplify the winding and setting mechanisms of clocks, to provide in a sim ple manner for winding and setting, by rotation of an external case-member, of a time movement of the general construction of a. lever-set or. pendant-set watch movement; and generally to provide a simple, very compact and water-tight and dusttight clock of the case-winding and case-setting type.

I will now roceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows, on a smaller scale than the succeeding figures, a front view of a clock embodying my invention; Fig. 2 shows a front view of the clock with the time-movement and upper portion of the case removed. Fig. 3, shows a back view of the time-movement and attached dial-plate. Fig. 1 shows a transverse axial section of the clock on the line 00-03 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detailtransverse section, On the same line m00 of Fig. 1, and on a larger scale, of a portion of the winding and setting mechanism. Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary section on the section line g 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation howing a slip joint which may be employed in communicating motion to the winding and setting mechanisms; a portion of this slip joint being shown in section. Fig. 6 shows a front view of the movement, the rearview of which is shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are similar front views, with dial removed, of watch movements of various types, and case members therefor, illustrating the application of myinvention to various well known types of watch movements, Fig. 7 illustrating the application of the invention to a so-called Ansonia movement, Fig. 8 illustrating the application of the invention to a so-called Seth Thomas movement, and Fig. 9 illustrating the application of the invention to a so-called Waltham movement. Fig. 10 shows a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 11 of a clock case with movement removed, embodying alternative means of the nature of a bayonet catch for connecting the bezel ring and case-base. Fig. 11 shows a vertical section on the line c0-w of F ig. 10 of the same alternative construction. Fig. 12 is a detail elevation of a clutch-actuating member employed in the constructions of Figs. 7' and 9. Fig. 13 is a detail elevation of a gearshift-actuating member employed in the construction shown in Fig. 8.

As my invention does not involve the con struction of the so-called movement'- or time-keeping mechanism itself, I have, not

illustrated such movement itself fully in the drawings. The various clocks illustrated in these drawings are of the so-called automobile type, since it is in those types of clocks that demand exists principally for the winding and setting of the clock by rotation of a case member; however, obviously, the invention herein illustrated and described is adapted for various types of clocks and other time-pieces.

In the drawings, numeral 1 designates the main base, numeral 2 a case-base secured to the main base 1 as hereinafter described, numeral 3 designates a ring resting upon case-base 2 and held thereto by brackets a (Figs. 2 and 5 which permit ring 3 to rotate with respect to case-base 2, and numeral 5 designates the main case member, which is also a bezel ring, carrying the front glass 6 and being screw-connected to ring 3. The front glass 6, the bezel ring 5, rings 3 and 2, and the base 1, together completely inclose the movement, designated generally in Fig. 3 by the numeral 7.

As above explained, my invention is not confined to use with any particular type of movement. The particular movement illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, is a foreign made movement of good type, and provided with a winding and setting shaft 8 which, if that movement were set in a watch case, would be connected to the pendant-head. This shaft 8 has secured to it a crown pinion 9 in mesh with the crown gear 10 carried by and secured to the rotatable annular plate 3. It will be clear that when this plate 3 is rotated, by rotation of the bezel ring 5, pinion 9 will be rotated. The movement also comprises a clutch-sleeve 11 (Figs. 5 and 6) mounted to slide upon shaft 8 and toothed at one end to engage a crown pinion 12 forming the first gear of the hand-setting train 1314-15, the clutch sleeve 11 being serrated at its other end to engage the corresponding serrated hub of the crown pinion 16, forming the first element of the spring- Winding train of the movement. I have not illustrated the spring winding train in full, as such trains are well known, and the movement itself is of a known type.

A spring 17 of general U-form tends to hold clutch member 11 normally in engagement with pinion l6; and a slide member 18 is provided which, if moved toward the cen ter of the clock movement, and in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft 8, will move the clutch sleeve 11 out of engagement with gear 16, and into engagement with pinion 12. Upon release of this member 18, the spring 17 will IIIOWB the sleeve 11 back into engagement With gear 16.

The screws 19 (Figs. 2 and 4) which hold case-base ring 2 to the main base 1, pass through slots 20 in case-base 2, which permits that ring 2 (and with it the structure 35 and with it the time-movement contained within that structure) to move laterally with reference to main-base 1. A spring 21 anchored at its ends in slots of the ring 2, and hearing at its center against the side of a screw 2? projecting upward from the main base 1, tends to hold the structure 2-3*5 in the position indicated in Figs. '2, a and 5, but permits the structure 2-3-5 to be moved upward slightly (as the parts are viewed in those figures), such movement being, of course, in a plane parallel to the base 1. A pin 23 projects upward from base 1 into engagement with the slide member 18. It will be clear that such upward movement of the structure 2--3-5 will cause the slide member 18 to move the clutch sleeve 11 into engagement with the first gear 12 of the hand-setting train. And it will be clear that when the structure 2-35 has been so moved the hands of the clock may be set by rotating the structure while holding the structure 235 in such raised position. It will also be clear that when the structure 235 has been released by the hand, it will drop to its original position, the clutch sleeve 11 being then moved, by the pin 23 and slide member 18, out of engagement with the hand-setting train, and into engagement with the ear 16 of the springwinding train.

In other words, the main spring of the movement may be wound by rotating the bezel ring 5 without lifting or lateral movement of the structure and the formsof the engaging teeth of clutch sleeve 11 and hub of gear 16 are such that this spring winding movement may be a ratchet movement. To set the hands of the clock, the bezel ring 5 is lifted slightly in a direction parallel to the base 1, and then, by rotation of the bezel ring 5, the hands may be set.

So far as I am informed, this is the first clock in which handsetting is effected by moving a case member laterally or in a direction parallel to the base, and then rotating that case member.

As above stated, the bezel ring 5 is screw connected to the ring 3 carrying the crown gear 10. The resistance offered by the main spring to winding up will provide suflicient resistance to rotation of the ring 3, to permit the bezel ring 5 to be screwed tightly to that ring 3. It is desirable, however, to provide some means for holding the ring 3 against backward rotation when the bezel ring is to be unscrewed. To that end I provide (see Fig. 2) a spring-actuated pawl 24 adapted, in one position of the ring 3, to enter a locking recess 25 of that ring and thereby to prevent further backward rotation of that ring 3. This pawl 24 is pivoted to the case-base 2. Adjacent the tail of this pawl there is a pin 26 projecting from the member messes 3 being rotated backward for hand-setting.

" In the alternative arrangement shown in Figs; 10 and 11, the ring 3 is provided with a peripheral flange having in it slots 28 of bayonet 'joints, and the bezel ring 5, which, in'this construction, is not screwconnected to ring 3, is provided with coacting pins 29 of bayonet joints.

pins 29 and thereby to offer suliicient resist ance to disengagement of the parts of the bayonet joints, so that the hands may be set by backward rotation'of the bezel ring 5, or the main spring may be wound by a ratcheting motion of the bezel ring 5, without' opening of the bayonet joint; while, nevertheless, by a slightly increased force applied to rotate the bezel ring 5 backward, while the structure 235 is in winding position, the bezel ring pin 29 will be forced past the spring 30, the latter yielding, and so permitting disengagement of bezel ring 5 from ring 3. I

In Figs. 7 8 and 9, I illustrate the application of my invention to various winding and setting mechanisms differing slightly from that shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. In the construction shown in Fig. 7 the wind ing and setting shaft 8 is provided as in the construction shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, with a crown pinion 9 in mesh with the crown gear 10, such crown gear being indicated by a dot-and-dash pitch circle, and said shaft has mounted upon it, but adapted for longitudinal motion relative to it, a sleeve 9 provided with a grooved collar 11 engaged by the forked end of the pin 23 (Fig. 12) proje'cting'upward from the main base 1 into engagement with such collar. The sleeve 9 has, furthermore, the clutch 11 engaging a corresponding clutch member carried by a pinion 16 formingthe first member of the hand setting train, and normally out of engagement with the second member, 34, of that hand setting train, but adapted to be brought into mesh with member 34 by axial movement. This gear 16 is mounted on an axially movable shaft 33 (an. extension of sleeve 9 carrying a clutch member 33 normally in en- 'gagement with the corresponding clutch A spring lever 30 is provided to engage one of such 7)- will move clutch member 33 out of engagement with the clutch portion of the gear 33", (so throwing the movement out of winding action) and will move crown pinion 16 into engagement with crown gear 34 of the hand setting train, so throwing the movement into hand setting action; after which the hands (not shown) may be set by rotation of the bezel ring 5. The construction illustrated in Fig. 7 (except for the laterally movable case and the forked member 23 for operating the clutch) is that of the well known Ansonia movement, and hence requires no further descrigtion.

In the construction shown in Fig. 8 the winding and setting shaft 8 is provided, as in the previous views, with a. crown pinion 9 in engagement with the crown gear 10 indi'cated as in Fig. 7 by a dotand-dash circle representing the pitch circle of the gear. This shaft also carries a crown pinion 16 in permanent engagement with a gear 37 itself in permanent engagement with two pinions 38 and 39 carried by a rocking lever 40. Pinion 38 is normally in engagement with gear 41 on the spring winding mechanism; but when lever 40 is moved on its pivot by means hereinafter described, pinion 38 is moved out of engagement with gear 41 and pinion 39 is moved into engagement with gear 42 of the hand setting train 42 43. As in the previous views the watch movement is carried by a case, represented in Fig. 8 by thebezel ring 5,which case is movable laterally with respect to the mainbase 1. This ma in base l carries a pin 23 projecting upward and provided with an extension (Fig. 13) connecting it with the rocking lever 40. It will be apparent that, with the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 8., upward movement of the'case (as represented by bezel ring 5) with reference to main base 1 and of the movement itself, carried by that case, will shift locking lever 40 so as to disengage pinion 38 from gear 41 and to engage pinion 39 with gear 42; after which the hands may be set by rotation of the case. The construction shown in Fig. 8 is, with the exception of pin 23 and link 44, and the laterally movable case 5, substantially that of the well known Seth Thomas movement and of various other well known movements, both of the lever set and of the pendant-set types, employing rocking levers such as lever 40; and therefore no further illustration of these movements is thought necessary. I

In the construction shown in Fig. 9, the winding and setting shaft 8 is provided, as in the previous views, with a. crown pinion 9 in engagement with the crown gear 10. This shaft 8 has driving engagement with a longitudinally movable shaft 45 provided with the shifting collar 11 engaged by the forked pin 23. Upon shaft 45 is mounted the crown pinion 16 having a ratchet-clutch hub arranged to be engaged by the clutch sleeve 50. This clutch sleeve 50, though arranged to be driven by shaft 45, is free for axial movement on that shaft, and there is the well known motion-reversing lever connection 51-52 of the WValtham movement, between the end of shaft 45 and clutch collar 50. The upper end of the clutch sleeve 50 is formed as a crown pinion to coact with the first or crown gear 47 of the hand setting train 474849. It will be apparent that upward movement of the bezel ring 5 (as the parts are viewed in Fig. 9) will in effect move shaft 45 outwardly with respect to the time movement carried by the case of which 5 is a part, and that by reason of the motion reversing action of levers 51 and 52 this motion of shaft 45 will disengage clutch 50 from the hub of gear 16, and will engage the upper end of clutch sleeve 50 with the crown gear 47. In other words, the movement has been changed from spring winding to hand setting action.

The gear 16 (held stationary against longitudinal motion in the ordinary manner) forms the first element of the spring winding train 3132.

From the foregoing description and illustrations it will be apparent that my invention,comprising a rotatable case member laterally movable with respect to a base, and

=. means, actuated by such lateral movement of the case member, for shifting from winding-action to setting act1on,or v1ce versa, is apphcable generally to movements of pendant-set type and also to movements of the lever-set or pin-set types.

I have illustrated the application of my invention to four different well known movements of these types. illustrate the application of my invention to other such movements. Bezel wind-andset movements wherein the mechanism is changed from winding action to setting action by pressing in a push pin are also known, and it is obvious that my invention is applicable to such movements by mounting the movement itself in a laterally movable case as herein described, and by connecting the said push pin to the. main base of the clock, as herein described.

From what is said above, and from practical examples given in the drawings of the application of my invention to various well known movements, it is obvious that my invention can be applied to still other movements, by persons skilled in the art, without invention, in view of the foregoing explanations.

Preferably, in the various constructions shown, the crown pinion 9 is driven from the crown gear 10 by means of some slip It would be burdensome to joint which will yield in the event of too great torque being applied to the bezel ring 5 in either winding or setting the clock. Owing to the fact that the bezel ring 5 will commonly be of a diameter much greater than the pendant head or key by which watch movements are commonly wound, it may well happen that, if such a slip joint be not provided, a user of the clock may apply too much torque to the bezel ring 5, particularly in winding the clock. In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a very simple slip joint which may be provided, comprising spring collars mounted upon shaft 8 and pressed against the sides of pinion 9 by pins 54 driven through shaft 8. It will be understood that the pins 54, by friction or other suitable engagement with spring plates 53, prevent said plates from rotating with respect to shaft 8, and that by frictional action against pinion 9 said plates normally cause said pinion 9 to drive shaft 8 but permit said pinion 9 to slip over shaft 8 if that shaft be locked for any reason, as for example, because the spring of the clock is fully wound.

Vhat I claim is 1. A time piece comprising in combination a base, a case member mounted both for rotary movement with respect to said base and for lateral movement with respect thereto, and a time movement within such case and comprising winding and hand setting mechanism, means operated by lateral movement of such case with reference to said base, for changing from winding action to hand setting action, or vice versa, and means operated by rotary motion of such case for operating the winding mechanism or the hand setting mechanism, alternatively, according to the position of the case with reference to said base.

2. A time piece comprising in combination a base, spring winding means, hand setting means and an operating member for said spring winding and hand setting devices, rotatable and also laterally movable with respect to said base, and means operated by its lateral movement for throwing the spring winding means out of operation and throwing the hand setting means into operation, or vice versa, according to the direction of such lateral movement.

3. A time piece comprising in combination a base, a case member mounted both for rotary movement with respect to said base and for lateral movement with respect thereto. and a time movement within such case and comprising winding and hand setting mechanism, means operated by lateral movement of such case with reference to said base, for changing from winding action to hand settingaction, or vice versa, and means operated by rotary motion of such case for operating the winding mechanism or the hand setting mechanism, alternatively, according to the position of the case with referenceto said base, and means tending to hold the case member normally in one of its two lateral positions.

A time piece comprising in combination a base, spring winding means, hand set ting means, and an operating member for said springwinding and hand setting devices, rotatable and also laterally movable with respect to said base, and means operated by its lateral movement for throwing the spring winding means out or" operation and throwing the hand settin means into operation, or .vice versa, according to the direction of such lateral movement, and

' means tending to hold the operating member normally in one of its two lateral positions.

o. Aftime piece comprising in. combination ajbase, a time movement comprising spring winding means, hand setting means, and a casing inclosing the movement and rotatable and also laterally movable with respect to said base, means operated by rotation of such casing for operating either the spring winding means or the hand setting means, alternatively, and means operated by lateral movement of the case with reference to said base for causing either the spring winding means or the hand setting means to be operated by rotation of said case, according to the direction of lateral movement of such case.

6. A time piece comprising in combination a base, a case rotatably mounted upon such base and also mounted for lateral movement with respect to said base, spring winding means and hand setting means within said case, a gear carried by the case and rotatable therewith and means operated thereby for operating either saidspring winding means or said hand setting means, and means operated by lateral movement of the case, for causing operation of either the spring winding means or the hand setting means by said gear, according to the direction of lateral movement of said case.

7. A time piece comprising in combination a base, a time movement comprising spring winding means, hand setting means, and a casing inclosing the movement and rotatable and. also laterally movable with respect to said base, means operated by rotation of such casing for operating either the spring winding means or the hand setting means, alternatively, and means operated by lateral movement of the case with reference to said base for causing either the spring winding means or the hand setting means to be operated by rotation of said case, according to the direction of lateral movement of such case, and means tending to hold such case normally in one of its two extreme lateral positions.

8. A timepiece comprising in combination a base, a case rotatably mounted upon such base and also mounted for lateral movement with respect to said base, spring winding means and hand setting means within said case, a gear carried by the case and rotatable therewith and means operated thereby for operating either said spring winding means or said hand setting means, and means, operated by lateral movement of the case, for causing operation of either the spring winding means or the hand setting means by said gear, according to the direction of lateral movement of said case, and means tending to hold such case normally in one of its two extreme lateral positions.

9. A time piece comprising in combination a base, casing base mounted thereon for restricted lateral movement with respect thereto, a casing member mounted upon such case base for lateral movement with such case base, and for rotary movement with respect to said case base, a gear carried by said casing member and rotatable therewith, spring winding means and hand setting means located within the casing formed by said casing member and case base and arranged to be operated by said gear, and means operated by lateral movement of said casing member with respect to said base for throwing said spring winding and hand setting means into and out of operation, alternatively.

10. A time piece comprising in combination a base, a casing mounted thereon for restricted lateral movement with respect thereto, such casing comprising a rotatable exterior member, a time movement mounted within said casing to be moved laterally therewith, but to remain stationary during rotation of such exterior casing member, said time movement comprising rewinding and hand-setting means arranged to be operated by rotation of said exterior case member, and shifting means operated by lateral movement of the case for throwing the one or the other into operative condition, at will.

11. A time piece comprising in combination a base, a casing mounted thereon for restricted lateral movement with respect thereto, such casing comprising a rotatable exterior member, a time movement mounted within said casing to be moved laterally therewith, but to remain stationary during rotation of such exterior casing member, said time movement comprising rewinding and hand setting means arranged to be operated by rotation of said exterior casemember, said time movement further comprising shifting means for throwing one or the other of said hand setting and rewinding means into operative condition, said base comprising means engaging said shifting means and arranged to cause the operation of the shifting means when the case is moved laterally.

12. A time piece comprising in combination a main base, a casing comprising a casing base mounted on said main base for restricted lateral movement with respect thereto, a time movement Within said casing comprising two independent mechanisms, and shifting means for throwing one or the other of said mechanisms into operative condition, alternatively, said shifting means arranged to be operated by lateral movement of the casing with reference to said main base. r

13. A time piece comprising in combination a main base, a casing comprising a casing basemounted on said main base for restricted lateral movement with respect thereto, a time movement within said casing comprising two independent mechanisms, and shifting means for throwing one or the other of said mechanisms into operative condition, alternatively, said shifting means arranged to be operated by lateral movement of the casing with reference to said main base, said casing comprising an exterior ro tatable member and means operated thereby for operating one or the other of said mechanisms as determined by said shifting means. 14. Atime piece comprising in combination a main base, a casing mounted thereon and comprising a casing base mounted for restricted lateral 'movement with respect to said main base, and spring means engaging both said main base and said casing base and tending to hold said casing base in one of its possible extreme lateral positions with respect to the main base.

15. A time piece comprising in combination a main base, a casing mounted thereon,

and comprising a casing base mounted for restricted lateral movement with respect to said main base, and a flat spring seated at its ends in slots in the case base and engaging near its center a projecting portion of the main base and arranged, by reason of such engagement, to tend to hold the casing base in one of the extreme lateral positions of such casing base.

16. A time piece comprising in combination a main base, a casing comprising a casing base mounted on saidmain base for restricted lateral movement with respect thereto, said casing further comprising a two part rotatable casing member mounted for rotation on said casing base and mounted to move laterally with said casing base, the parts of said two part casing member being screw connected, a stop adapted to engage one of said screw connected members to prevent rotation thereof in one direction, in one lateral position of the casing, and means operated by lateral movement of the casing in one direction for disconnecting such catch when the casing is moved in that direction.

17. A time piece comprising in combination a main base, a casing comprising a casing base mounted on said main base, for restricted lateral movement with respect thereto, said casing comprising also a rotatable annular member mounted upon said casing base, and shouldered studs projecting from said casing base over the inner edge of said annular member and in engagement with the inside surface of such annularmember and serving to hold said annular member to said casing base and also to guide the same for rotary movement.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAUL ARONSON.

\Vitnesses H. l\I. MARBLE, PAUL H. FRANKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

